Coke oven



Julgf 9,1935. c, STILL 2,007,818

Find-Nov. 2s, 195o svsneets-Sheet 1 C. STILL COKE OVEN Julyl 9, 1935.

5 Sheets-Sheet vI2 Filed NOV. 2^, 1950 July A9, 1935. c. STILL COKE OVEN Filed Nov. 26, 1930 5 sheets-sheet 3 Patented July 9, 1935 UNITED STAT@ PATENT orties Application November 26, 1930, Serial No. 498,285 In Germany October 28, 1929 s claims. (o1. 2oz-V257) In ovens for the distillation of solid fuel, for example coke ovens, gas retorts and the like, the apparatus for leading the gases, vapours and other volatile products of distillation from the interior of the fuel causes in various ways considerable diculties in working the ovens. These are mainly due, on the one hand, to the fact that the apparatus, at the places where the gases and vapours have to be led away externally, must have, obviously, some connection with the outer xed parts of the oven, while, on the other hand, the parts of the apparatus projecting into the interior of the fuel interfere with the local ychanges of the fuel required in working, more particularly the charging and discharging.

The object of the apparatus according to the invention is to obviate the drawbacks connected with the known apparatus of this type and to remove the diicultes due to them in the operations.

The accompanying drawings represent an example of an embodiment of the apparatus as.

applied to a horizontal coke oven.

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through the centre of a coke oven chamber of which only the part comprising the front end is shown.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through two adjacent oven chambers.

Fig. 3 is a Vertical axial section on an enlarged scale through the upper part of the apparatus.

Fig. 4 Vis a vertical section, similar to that of Fig. 3, through a modied construction.

Figs. 5 `and 6 are sections respectively on the lines A-B and C-D of Fig. 4.

The oven chamber l, which is heated in the usual manner on both sides by heating walls 2 (Fig. 2) and is closed at its front by doors 3, has the usual charging openings 5 in the roof of the oven for the coal, and a gas discharge opening 6 which is connected' by an ascension'pipe 'l With a gas and tar container 8. The frame supporting the container 8 carries also a gas collectving main 9 extending over the whole length of the battery. The oven chamber! is, as usual, illed with coal l0 so that there is a free space l l for the collection of, gas, which space, however,

in this case is smaller than is usually employed,

due to the smaller gas passage required.

In the oven roof i between the openings 5 and 6 there are a number of iron boxes l2, some six to ten or more in the whole length of the chamber, the construction or" the boxes being shown more clearly in Fig. 3 and the object of which is to support tubular devices, forming the `charge lll.

subject of the invention, for leading away the gases and vapours from the interior of the coal These boxes l2 act at the same time as collecting devices for the gases, vapours and their condensates which are to be led away. They are for that reason closed gas-tight above by a cover i3 with a water sealing device M. The sealing water for the device I4 is led through a conduit' l5 from pipes I6 disposed on the oven roof; a conduit il leads away the gases, vapours and their condensates from the boxes l2. The conduit l? leads (Fig. 2) with the interposition of cocks i8, to a collecting pipe I9 which is common to all the boxes l2 or gas delivery apparatus of every two adjacent oven chambers, and which lextends substantially over the whole length of the oven chamber (Fig. 1). The pipe i9 passes through the front wall of the oven and is connected there by an elbow `piece 2li with the pipe 9 above it. The condensates carried over into the pipe I9 are withdrawn at the lowest point of the Velbow piece 2l) by a discharge pipe 2|. From the bottom of the box I 2 (Fig. 3) a tubularlmember 22 extends upwards into the interior of the box and an extension tube 23 of the same diameter projects downwards. The tubes 22 and 23 guide and support a concentric internal tube 24 which forms the upper tubular portion of the gas delivery apparatus according to the invention. The tube 2li carries at its upper end a bell 25 and two oppositely disposed ears one of which is indicated by the numeral 26. The bell 25, of which the feet 2l rest on the bottom of the box l2, forms together with the walls of the casing and the inner tube 22 a water seal by which the interior of the tube 24 is sealed against the exterior. The liquidV for this water seal is partly formed by the `overow of the seal iii for the cover i3, partly by the condensates of the Vdischarged gases. The excess quantities oi liquid flow through the conduits il into the pipe I9. The bell, however, is not absolutely necessary and the water seal vcan be replaced by sealing with clay.

A lower tube 28 for leading away the gas is arranged concentrically withinthe upper tube 24. While the tube 24, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, only projects through the space Il of the oven chamber Ito a small extent below the surface of the fuel it, the lower gas tube 28 extends in the condition of working shown in Figs. 1 and 2 almost to the bottom of the chamber l. By this proportioning and arrangement of the tubes 24 and 28, the junction of both tubes is surrounded by the fuel I0. The tube 28 is provided with slots 29 for carrying away the gases and vapours over the greater portion of its length surrounded by the fuel, the length of the slots increasing from the iixed to the free end of the tube, the slots lying preferably only or mainly in the longitudinal axis of the oven chamber, as shown in Fig. 2. A cross bar 30 is provided at the upper end of the tube 28 below which the hook 3| of a supporting rod 32 can be applied. The rod 32 carries at its upper end an ear 33 and a lateral lug 34 which can rest on the upper edge of the tube 24. The position, shown in full lines in Fig. 3, of the upper end of the tube 28, in which the bar 30 is held by the hook 3 I, is lower than the position shown above it in dot and dash lines, the latter corresponding to the working position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Before the commencement of the charging of an oven chamber, as long as the latter is empty, both the tubes 24 and 28 are outside the oven chamber. When the boxes I2 have been opened by lifting the covers I3 and cut off by the cocks I8 from the pipes I9, all the upper tubes 24 are inserted from above and are suspended and lowered by the engagement of the ears 26 and a lifting hook of a pulley block or the like (not shown) which may be secured to a crab traveling above the oven. By means of the same pulley blocks and the rods 32, the tubes 28 are lowered through the tubes 24 into the still empty oven chambers until they rest on the bottom o the chamber I. This position of the tube 28 is shown in Fig. 3 in full lines. The supporting rod 32 of each tube 28 is first laterally supported above by its lug 34, as shown in Fig. 3, against falling and the ears 33are then released from the pulley block which can then operate the other devices. After all the tubes 24 and 28 have been inserted, the oven chamber is charged with coal through the openings 5. Since the lower tubes 28 rest on the chamber sole, they are not displaced from their vertical position by the descending charge of coal. As soon as the tubes 28 have been locked in position by the coal itself, they are raised by again hooking the rods 32 to the ears 33 by means of the pulley block through a small distance, about mm., so that their lower ends now lie freely above the chamber sole by this amount. Since naturally coal flows at once under their ends, they remain in this raised position when the hooks 3| of .the rods 32 are lowered and released from the bars 30, in order to carry the rods 32 away upwards. As soon as the covers I3 are placed on the boxes I2 and the cocks I8 of the pipe I9 are opened, the tubes 28 and 24 can lead awayv the gases and vapours from the interior of the fuel I0. The Water seal provided by the bell 25 of the tube 24 enables the gases and vapours to be drawn off through the pipes 28 and 24 from the interior of the fuel, and also the gases to be led at the same time through the space I I and the openings 6 of the chamber from the outer parts of the fuel adjacent to the heating walls, since the most suitable suction can be provided for each of these two means of leading away the gases independently of one another. The gases and vapours from the inner portions pass through the pipe I!) into the pipe 9, and those from the outer parts through the ascension pipe 'I into the gas and tar vessel 8.

In this way it is possible to adjust the suction applied to the boxes I2 relatively to the suction applied to the openings 6, so that, besides the relatively cool gases and vapours developed in the-interior of the fuel, the gases developed outside the coking seam, and which are very hot by proximity to the heating walls, are also led away through the tube 28. These hot gases press through the holes in the coking seam into the interior of the fuel, dry and preheat the coal there, and thereby accelerate the distillation process, so that the carbonizing time is shortened. A predetermined adjustment of the suction for each separate box I2 can also be obtained by utilizing the cocks I8 as regulating devices, cr by replacing them by other special regulating dcvices, for example perforated discs provided with openings of predetermined size. It is also possibe to apply suction pressures of different amounts to the individual tubes 28, 24 of the whole row distributed over the length of the oven. If these measures are combined, for example with the previously explained means, by which a portion of the hot gases from the exterior is drawn thro-ugh the interior of the fuel, the local differences in the rate of distillation can be utilized to compensate the effect of the different thickness of the layers of the fuel, due to the usual conical formation in the longitudinal direction of horizontal coke ovens, over the Whole carbonizing period. Also, it is possible to accelerate the carbonizing near to the oven tops and thereby to avoid raw coke tops.

When the distillation of the fuel of the chamber is completed, that is when the fuel has been converted into coke, the boxes I2 are out oii by the cocks I8 from the pipe IS and the covers I3 opened. The upper pipes 24 are now first withdrawn upwards. Since they only project through a relatively small distance into the coked fuel, their removal presents no difficulty. Then when the doors 3 of the oven chamber have been removed, the whole cake is removed in the usual manner in the horizontal direction from the oven chamber I, the pipes 28 remaining in the cake provide no hindrance, since they have been released from their connection with the fixed portions on the oven roof, and below do not come into contact with the bottom of the oven. rhey are brought out with the rammed coke and after the coke has been spread out are left on the coke wharf and are ready to be used again for the next charge.

The described construction or the tubes 24, 28 enable them to be removed together before the end of the distillation process from the fuel, so that the pipes 28 neednot be expelled with the coke cake. In this case it would be usually neces-' sary that the tube 28 should be withdrawn beiore the coking seam extending from the heating walis of the chamber to the middle of the charge, that is, the zones in which the bitumen of the coal is brought to the melting point, reached and caked on to the tubes 28. In this condition generally the yield in those volatile products of distillation, to obtain which requires the gases to be led directly from the inner parts of the fuel, is so small, that it is not worth while to continue this method of leading away the gases, so that the removal of the tube from the interior of the fuel is no longer disadvantageous. By this previous removal of the lower tube 28, the upper tubes 24 can either be withdrawn with it or remain in position until the end of the distillation, as above described, and then withdrawn.

Also, it is not absolutely necessary in the ex ample described to insert thetubes 24 and 28 into the empty oven chamber before beginning to charge with coal. If the coal arranges itself suiciently loosely, the tubes 24 and 28 can be into the invention for leading away the gases.

serted from above into thecoal already charged into the oven chamber, possibly after the previous formation of ducts by means of special rods. This has the advantage, that the charging of the chamber and the levelling ofthe coal are 4iacilitated by the absence of the tubes.

A further advantage of this method of working is that during the charging and levelling, the socalled charging gases flowing into the space il are led away through the boxes i2 and the pipe i9.

In the case of ovens of larger dimensions where the length of the tube 2t would be excessive, it is preferable to divide these tubes lengthwise into several separable parts.

In the construction shown in Figs. 4, and 6 the subdivided tubes are inserted from the outside into the fuel already charged into the oven chamber.

35 and 3% denote the upper and lower surfaces of the oven roof, 3l the surface of .thefuel charge in the oven chamber. The box i3 disposed in the oven roof has in its interior an upwardly extending cylindrical tubular member 39 and a downwardly extending tube 40 of the same diameter.

These tubular members 39 and 'all not only serve as a supporting device for, but more especially serve as guide for all the tubular parts, which together represent the apparatus according The upper tubular member di, which carries at its upper end a sealing bell 42 and a lifting strap 53, extends for a certain distance below the surface 3l of the fuel. The lower tubular portion which consists itself of two separate tubes iii and t5 is constructed according to the invention, so thatl it has the saine external cross-section as the upper tubular part ai, against which it abuts. The butt joints it between the abutting tubes are preferably cone shaped, as shown in Fig ll,

, or formed with prismatic tubes in pyramid shape.

The lower tube G5 has at its outer end a point i. rlhe openings for the entrance of the gas are, in all the tubular portions M, M and 45, partly narrow longitudinal slots t8 (see Fig. 5), partly larger wider holesrll (Fig. 6). The holes i9 are shrouded by a tubular member 56 applied to the interior of the tube, so that an annular passage 5i open above is provided for the gas. I The inember 50 is preferably positioned in the lower end of the tube M or 45. Its lower extension forms with the tube alli a conical butt joint dii, and the tubular member 50a with the tube 55 the point 4l. -In Figure 7 a modied form of the tubular member 5B is shown. In this case the tube lll is provided with an internal thread so that the tubular member 55 may be screwed in. In this modication the butt joint 46 is formed between the tube i4 and 45, independent of the member 563. Y

In using this apparatus after the oven chamber has been charged, that is when the fuel has reached to the level 3l, the lowest tube i5 with the point lil is first inserted through the tubular members 3Q, all into the fuel, wherein it is displaced downwards by its weight through a certain distance and then the second tube lll is placed on the tube i5 and nally the top tube IH which is suspended from a pulley block to the strap t3 on this tube M. When the lifting hook of the pulley block is lowered, the three tubes Mi, a5 and 4I descend by their own weight further into the fuel until finally the nange fila of the bell 42 of the top part rests on the top of the part G9. During this insertion of the tubes lill,

l5 and il into the oven chamber and into the fuel, the tubular members 39 and 49 of the box 38 serve as guides and ensure that the different tubes come to rest regularly at their predetermined position in the fuel, so that a uniform annular suction is ensured. This suction is eiected partly through the slots 43, partly through the openings lie. Since the openings 48 consist of narrow slots, of which the width is at most about 2 min., the small particles of coal are prevented from entering into the interior of the tubes. The openings 159, shielded by the members 5%, form annular passages 5i for the entrance of the gas and any particles of coal entering through the openings remain at the bottom of these passages 5! and are not carried into the interior of the tubes.

When the distillation of the chargeof fuel in the oven chamber has been completed, the parts li are withdrawn upwards. The lower parts All and l5 remain in the coke and are discharged with the latter from' the oven chamber. They can be again picked up and inserted as described above.

The pipe portions l i lil and 45 for leading away the gases and vapors, instead of being, as shown in the drawings, of cylindrical form, may be prismatic and of rectangular cross-section. The guides 3S and Il@ of the box t8 need not be tubular, but may, particularly with prismatic tubes, be replaced by guiding devices of diierent form.

The apparatus according to the invention is also adapted equally well for operating coke ovens with stamped or pressed coal cakes. In this case the pipes can be embedded in the stamped or pressed cake before the insertion of the latter in the oven chamber, that is, outside the oven, either during or after the stamping or pressing. When the coal cake is placed in the oven chamber, the upper pipe portions supported by the oven roof are inserted so that they connect with the lower tubes embedded in the coal cake. Under the circumstances, the pipe portions need not form a tight closure at their junction.

The invention is not restricted to the described construction, in which the tubes for leading away the gases and vapors project vertically from above into the distillation chamber. Different arrangements can be made of the positions of the tubular apparatus, of the apparatus itself relatively to the oven, and of the two separable tubular members, for example, the tubes may be horizontal and the outer tubular members secured to the side walls of the oven. Instead of the horizontal distillation chambers shown in the example, vertical chambers or retorts come within the scope of the invention, more especially those in which the residue from the distillation is removed from below.

Having thus described the nature of the said invention and the best means I know of carrying the same into practical effect, I claimz 1. In coke oven apparatus, in combination, coking chambers adapted to receive charges of coal, roofs associated with said chambers, spaced receptacles positioned within the roof Yof each coking chamber, telescopic ducts consisting of upper and lower pipes movable relative to each other extending from the bottom of the receptacles into the coal charges and adapted to convey gases and vapors therefrom, a liquid seal about the upper end of each upper pipe whereby the interior thereof is sealed from the atmosphere, said pipes being left in communication with the interior of their associated receptacles, a rod member operatively connected to the lower pipe adapted to move the same relative to the upper pipe, a gas and vapor discharge pipe positioned within the roof of the coking chambers and communicating with a co1- lecting main, and conduits connecting the receptacles with the gas and vapor discharge pipe.

2. In combination with a distillation oven having a roof, a plurality of telescopic tubular members projecting downward from the roof thereof into a body of fuel therein, sealing members lcated within the oven roof for sealing the upper ends oi said tubular members from the atmosphcre, and a collecting pipe for the oven connected to all of said tubular members.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 2 including a liquid seal positioned in each of said sealing members about the upper end of each of said tubular members whereby each of said members is individually sealed from the atmosphere and in liquid communication with said collecting pipe.

4. In combination with a distillation oven having a roof, a plurality of telescopic tubular members projecting downwardly from the roof thereof into a body of fuel therein, sealing members located within the oven roof to seal the upper ends of said tubular members from the atmosphere, a collecting pipe for the oven communicating with all of said sealing members, and regulating means between each of said tubular members and .said pipe whereby fluid flow from said tubular members to the pipe may be regulated.

5. In combination with a distillation oven having a roof, apparatus for leading gases and vapors from the interior of a body of fuel in said oven comprising a plurality of sealing devices forming chambers positioned within the oven roof and having associated therewith a gas collecting pipe common to all said chambers for each oven, tubes projecting downwardly from said chambers into said body of fuel, each of said tubes having a tubular extension pipe therein extending through the charge of fuel to a point adjacent the bottom of the oven whereby gas may ow through said extension pipes and through said chambers and into said gas collecting pipe, and means extending above the upper end of each of said tubes and engaging the tubular extension pipes connected therewith whereby the depth to which said pipes extend into the charge of fuel may be adjusted.

6. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a chamber oven including a roof having apertures, said oven being adapted to contain a charge of coal, telescopic discharge tubes extending into the charge, said tubes comprising an upper portion and a lower portion telescoping therein, means connected to the lower portion of each tube and extending upwardly through said upper portion for vertically adjusting said lower portion, means within said roof for sealing said tubes against the space between the charge and the roof, and a horizontal gas collecting pipe connected with the upper end of said tubes.

7. In a chamber oven adapted to contain a charge of coal, the combination including a roof having apertures, discharge ducts comprising an upper fixed tube and a lower tube slidably secured within said rst tube, means within the roof for sealing said ducts against the space between said charge and said roof, a horizontal gas collecting pipe connected with the upper ends of said ducts, a gas discharge outlet in said roof for said gas collecting space communicating with a main outside the oven chamber, and means extending above the upper end of each of said pipes and engaging the tubular extension pipes connected therewith whereby the depth to which said pipes extend into the charge of fuel may be adjusted.

8. Coke oven apparatus having in combination coliing chambers adapted to contain charges of coal, roofs for said chambers, spaced receptacles positioned within said roofs, a plurality of separate ducts each together comprising an upper pipe in communication with the interior of each of said receptacles and a lower pipe telescoping within said upper pipe and extending vertically downward into the coal charge and adapted to convey gases and vapors upwards into said reccptacles, a rod member extending within said upper pipe and adapted to move said lower pipe relatively thereto, a gas and vapor discharge pipe positioned Within the roofs of said chambers, a collecting main connected to said last pipe, conduits connecting each of said receptacles and said discharge pipe, and means including liquid seals within said receptacles adapted to individually seal each duct against ingress of vapors from said receptacles.

CARL STILL. 

